Did anyone watch the Patriots vs. Broncos game last night?
Don’t worry; this post won’t be all about football. I try to limit my sports analogies 🙂 Especially since I don’t watch much sports!
That said, I grew up watching A TON on football. My dad played football in high school; as the kicker, his nickname was “The Toe.”
I couldn’t help but think of my dad when Stephen Gostkowski missed the extra point (also called PAT: point after touchdown) in Sunday’s game.
In the moment, I didn’t think much of it. The Broncos were playing a fantastic game. But as time went on and the Patriots scored more points, I found myself wishing the score of the game would not be so close.
Because I knew how badly Gostkowski would feel.
Toward the end of the game, I did a little Googling. I found out that last night’s missed PAT ended Stephen Gostkowski’s NFL record of earning 523 consecutive extra points. The next closest record holder is 100 points behind him.
523.
523 times in a row, Gostkowski kicked the ball and scored a PAT.
But right now, he’s not thinking about the fact that he has to be one of the best of the best to even be in the playoffs.
He’s not thinking about his 10-year streak of scoring PAT’s: 523 of them in a row.
He’s not thinking about how it takes a team to win or lose a game.
He’s thinking about one miss, one loss, one misstep.
But right now, less than a day after the Patriots lost the game, Stephen Gostkowski blames himself.
Perhaps you had a rough weekend. You made a mistake, a poor choice, or maybe a lot of poor choices. You are dragging your feet, walking into Monday, because you feel like a failure.
My advice to you is this (and to Gostkowski 🙂 ): remember the 523.
Remember all the victories, remember all the good choices, remember all the times God carried you through. Celebrate those rather than dwelling on any failures. Ask God to forgive you, ask Him to empower you to choose well next time, and move on.
There is life after a loss. God is still able.
Remember the 523.